Red heart logo with paw print and halo

Pet • Plant • Home Care

(530) 613-7387 (PETS)

Feel peace of mind every day – because I do it your way.

So you can be away when you need to be, without feeling guilty, worried, or concerned, I am committed to providing a safe, compassionate, loving, and fun experience for your furry, feathered, scaly family members – all in the comfort of their own familiar surroundings.

Red heart logo with paw print and halo

So you can be away when you need to be, without feeling guilty, worried, or concerned, I am committed to providing a safe, compassionate, loving, and fun experience for your furry, feathered, scaly family members – all in the comfort of their own familiar surroundings.

Pet • Plant • Home Care

(530) 613-7387 (PETS)

Feel peace of mind every day ~ I do it your way

Pet Sitters International banner

Woman portraitHi. I'm Wendy at

And While You're Away . . .

From rescuing strays as a kid to working in vet offices as a teen, I’ve always been that person who just lives to be with animals. Some call me 'over the top,' but I prefer to think of it as a lifelong calling!

Since 2000, I’ve been turning that passion into professional care. When you’re away, I step in to make sure your pets stay in their happy place—safe, relaxed, and loved. Beyond the snuggles, I bring the peace of mind that comes with being a PSI member, a CPPS (Certified Professional Pet Sitter), Pet CPR/First Aid Certified, licensed, and fully insured. Think of me as your pet’s favorite auntie (who also happens to be a pro)!

 

Pet Visits  ♥  Over Nights  ♥  Walks
Feed  ♥  Water  ♥  Play  ♥  Cleanup
Plant Care  ♥  Home Security Checks

Feel peace of mind every day ~ I do it your way.

Woman portraitHi. I'm Wendy at

And While You're Away . . .

From rescuing strays as a kid to working in vet offices as a teen, I’ve always been that person who just lives to be with animals. Some call me 'over the top,' but I prefer to think of it as a lifelong calling!

Since 2000, I’ve been turning that passion into professional care. When you’re away, I step in to make sure your pets stay in their happy place—safe, relaxed, and loved. Beyond the snuggles, I bring the peace of mind that comes with being a PSI member, a CPPS (Certified Professional Pet Sitter), Pet CPR/First Aid Certified, licensed, and fully insured. Think of me as your pet’s favorite auntie (who also happens to be a pro)!

 

Pet Visits  ♥  Over Nights  ♥  Walks
Feed  ♥  Water  ♥  Play  ♥  Cleanup
Plant Care  ♥  Home Security Checks
Feel peace of mind every day ~ we do it your way.

Services

I welcome all questions. I am comfortable and have experience with a wide variety of animals including but not limited to:

dogs ♥ cats♥ horses ♥ goats
rodents ♥ aquarium dwellers
vegetarian birds and reptiles ♥ arachnids

Goats eating on a ranch

I like to think all things are possible as I continue to learn and grow. If there is a related service not listed here, please ask me. What I don’t know I am usually willing to learn. If something is not do-able by me, having lived here most of my life, I have many connections and I may be able to steer you in the right direction.

Expect mini photo shoots.

cat

Daily visits include

• Exercise/play/hang-out-n-love-‘em-time with pets/pet walks.
• Feed and water pets.
• Let out/bring in pets as needed.
• Clean-up after pets – house, yard, litter box, stall, cage, “accidents”.
• Pet assessment and administration of any necessary medications.
• Feed and water house, porch, and deck plants.
• Mail/newspaper collection.
• Security checks of premises/lights on/off for “we’re at home” look.
• Text, phone call, email updates daily or intermittently as requested.

Additional Services available

• Overnight pet care.

AS SCHEDULE ALLOWS:
    • Shuttle to/from vet, pet groomer, etc.,
    • Field trips: State Park, forest hikes, river hikes.
    • Pet supply pick-up/delivery.
    • Pet sits outside the immediate service area.

Happy dog with big tongue

RATES AND FEES*

Due to the wide variety and combinations of clients’ service needs, fees are calculated on a very individual basis. However I have provided the following list as a good rule of thumb. Some things I consider are: number and types of pets, number of visits scheduled, travel time/distance and services requested. I always schedule a complimentary home visit prior to finalizing arrangements. This gives you and your pets the opportunity to meet me and to fully define their and your needs. We will also review and fill out necessary paperwork, confirm fees and I can answer any remaining questions.

*A minimal $1.00 per minute charge may be added to the basic rates below for each minute over 10 min drive time, one-way, from my home base in Grass Valley.

Cancellation/change policy

Because I only have a certain number of spots available daily, I specially reserve the time for your pets, and I do not over-book. I do require at least 72 hours' advance cancellation/change notice on all reserved times.

Short-notice cancellations/changes are virtually impossible to fill. Advance notice allows me to let someone else in need use the time released. Any of the time cancelled that falls within a 72 hour advance time frame is charged in full. For instance, if your pets are scheduled for Thurs-Sun one week and you cancel on Tues, since Thurs/Fri are within the 72 hr notice window, I do charge in full for those days.

Additionally, should you choose to come home early, since as above, I have reserved the time for your pets, I can not provide refunds, although on a case-by-case basis, I may consider a credit.

PET SITTING

  • $30 (base rate) 30 to 45 mins.
  • $40 – 60 mins.
  • $35/hr after 2 consecutive hours.
  • $90 – overnights (12-14 hrs).

PET WALKING

  • $35 - 30 to 45 mins, (plus $5 per additional pet).
  • $40 – 60 mins, (plus $5 per additional pet).

    ADDITIONAL SERVICES

The additional service category is calculated much the same, including a $.50 per mile service charge.

HOLIDAYS

Some holidays are charged at time-and-a-half.

New Year's Eve and Day
Memorial Day weekend (Sat-Mon)
4th of July (7/3 – 7/5)
Labor Day weekend (Sat – Mon)
Thanksgiving (Wed – Sat)
Christmas (12/23 – 12/27)

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE

One thing I love about being a Professional Pet Sitter: You gotta love Northern California.

On any given day you walk through sunny warmth, cloudy windy briskness, rain, sleet, hail, snow and then sunny and warm again . . . all in one day! The recent indecision in the weather patterns got me thinking how much I love it: the change, the variety, the “what will come next?” of it all:

Read more (click this bar).

​​S​uddenly I’m remembering that this is also one of the things I love most about being a Professional Pet Sitter. Every day is different, even when I’m obviously visiting, caring for, playing with, walking the same pets for days at a time, every day brings new adventures, never knowing what’s in store.

The weather is one thing for sure, but what about that deer that leaps across the road right in front of us on our walk, or the foxtail that gets into the paw?

Can’t find the favorite catnip toy or ball, and so begins the intensive search high and low through all the rooms and under all the furniture that becomes a game in itself.

Sometimes it’s the pet that just doesn’t feel “in the mood” so we just sit/lie, snuggle and chat. Then suddenly all is well with the world; we’re off and running again. The shy kitty who has found a new place to hide and is not sharing the information.

How about one of my all-time favorites: being way down that rocky, winding dirt road and coming out to find a flat tire and I have no cell phone signal.

Occasionally there’s been the home that is suddenly snowed in. After hiking down through the woods, snow up to my hip (don’t want to get stuck in that driveway), and because we’re expecting more snow tonight and I know I may not get back in here after that, I load up Ms. Kitty in the pet carrier, hike back to the car, and drive her back to my house for the duration.

I’m on an extended overnight and the poor pup is feeling sad about his family, howling and pacing all night . . . and I howl and pace right alongside . . . next day we are best buddies and we know it’ll be alright.
In my car I carry all manner of potentially necessary animal supplies, first aid paraphernalia, changes of clothes and shoes, my food for the day and plenty of water, always thinking ahead of the next possibility based partly on what’s on the schedule, partly on weather reports and partly on the rest of my life.

But when I’m there and I’m snuggling, playing, chatting, walking/exercising, and caring for all these wonderful animals, I am absolutely present. You cannot do what a good pet sitter does and be distracted by phones, other problems, or what is on the agenda next.

We have to be present and focused; the pets we care for “demand” it just by the very interactions we share. As a Professional Pet Sitter I am going to get there and I am going to make it happen.

Having said all this I want to thank all my clients, my future clients, and their families for letting me share their lives. It is unbelievably rewarding and fun . . . lots of work . . . but definitely worth it all the way around. And I know at the end of my day, when I tumble into bed, tired and satisfied, heart full, that this is what I was meant to do.

Happy client reviews on Facebook and Google Pages. These are live, not copied and pasted.

 

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